Agenda item

Resolved: that the Committee should refer its views to Mayor and Cabinet, as follows:

·         The Committee welcomes the sense of coherence and direction provided by the delivery of the masterplanning process. The Committee commends the work of the Catford regeneration programme team and it reiterates its appreciation for the careful consideration that officers are giving to all elements of the programme.

·         The Committee believes that the process of masterplanning has reached a point at which all councillors would benefit from the opportunity to be involved in discussions. The Committee asks that opportunities be provided for all elected members to be involved in the next stages of the development of the Catford town centre masterplan.

·         The Committee recommends that proposals for the future of the Council’s offices and civic facilities retain a connection between civic functions, office space and the public. The Committee believes that the Council’s offices should be open and accessible to the community so that there are opportunities for all residents to engage in the civic life of the borough.

·         The Committee recommends that officers’ future discussions with Transport for London and the Greater London Authority should emphasise the connection between the delivery of housing action zone targets and improvements in transport connections. The Committee is concerned about current plans to stop the extension of the Bakerloo line in Lewisham, rather than extending it to Hayes (via Catford).

·         The Committee reiterates the importance of incorporating quality cycling and walking routes on the key arterial routes into Catford.

·         The Committee recommends that as part of the master planning process officers should consider the potential for the development of an education campus with further and higher education providers.

·         The Committee highlights the importance of Catford’s varied and unique collection of businesses. The Committee recommends that consideration be given to options for provision of affordable premises for local businesses and organisations with a social purpose. This might include changes to the business rate system which enable innovation, encourage social purpose and support community participation.

5.1      Kplom Lotsu (SGM Capital Programmes) introduced the report. The following key points were noted:

·         The report included updates on the timetable for the development of the regeneration programme. There were also updates on the consultation and a presentation on the start of masterplanning processes.

·         An indicative timeline from Transport for London for the realignment of the South Circular had been provided in the report.

·         A timeline for the development of the masterplan for the town centre had also been provided. Dates had been factored into gather the views of the Committee before consideration by Mayor and Cabinet.

5.2      Deborah Efemini (Capital Project Manager) introduced an update on the regeneration communications programme. The following key points were noted:

·         Filigree communications (based in the business incubator space in the Old Town Hall) had been appointed to support the consultation.

·         Filigree specialised in consultation for regeneration projects.

·         Filigree and officers involved in the regeneration communications programme had branded themselves as ‘team Catford’ to represent the views of local people.

·         A range of engagement activities, both face to face and online, were taking place.

·         The Commonplace platform was being well received. More than a thousand people had registered to use the platform and made comments online.

·         The team were tracking interactions through social media and attempting to generate positive comments about the town centre and the Council.

·         Consultants from Urban Narrative had been working with Councillors and officers to gather information and ideas about the views of these stakeholders.

5.3      Sarah Walsh (Regeneration and Urban Development Programme Manager) and Roland Karthaus (Director of Matter Architects) gave a presentation (included in the part two papers). The presentation incorporated an update on the development of the brief for the masterplan for the town centre. An overview was provided of the different options for the use of space in Catford, including the possible criteria for configurations and locations for the Council’s civic and office functions. It was reported that a key consideration for the master plan was the integration of existing activities taking place in the town centre as well as the place making opportunities of the redevelopment. It was noted that the process that had been followed for the development of the masterplan so far would enable the Council to focus its options for the masterplan brief.

5.4      Sarah Walsh, Kplom Lotsu and Deborah Efemini responded to questions from the Committee. The following key points were noted:

·         The consultation and regeneration plans were encouraging positivity about the future of Catford.

·         Historically, people had only moved to Catford because it was affordable. There were positive signs that people were coming to Catford for a broader range of reasons.

·         There would be different options for the future location of the registry office. Beckenham Place Park provided one option but – depending on timing of the regeneration programme- there might be opportunities to move the office into the new civic complex in Catford.

·         In order to keep its London Plan designation as a major town centre Catford would need to retain its current level of retail. It was not envisaged that the amount of retail floor space would substantially change.

·         Officers had carried out a study of major town centres in London and the layout of the transport and infrastructure offer. The study indicated that of London’s 35 major town centres Catford’s transport connections were most disconnected from the town centre.

5.5       In the Committee discussions, the following key points were also noted:

·         Officers should give consideration to the impact of air pollution on the people who live and work in the town centre.

·         The Council’s offices and civic space should be open to the public to enable interaction between the community and elected members.

·         It was encouraging that work was taking place to consider how the built environment could improve the Council’s civic and official functions.

·         Officers should build on existing knowledge and research (including the historic Intercultural Cities work that was carried out in Deptford) to develop plans for the cultural offer in the town centre.

·         Officers should consider working with estate agents to encourage positivity about Catford town centre.

·         There should be collaboration between the regeneration team and the officers responsible for the management of Catford town centre to ensure that decisions about the management of the shopping centre reflected the ambition of the regeneration programme.

·         The Committee was concerned about the affordability of Catford’s future retail offer and the variety and uniqueness of local businesses.

·         Members reiterated their support for an improved cycling and pedestrian environment along the key arterial routes into Catford.

5.6      Resolved: that the Committee should refer its views to Mayor and Cabinet, as follows:

·         The Committee welcomes the sense of coherence and direction provided by the delivery of the masterplanning process. The Committee commends the work of the Catford regeneration programme team and it reiterates its appreciation for the careful consideration that officers are giving to all elements of the programme.

·         The Committee believes that the process of masterplanning has reached a point at which all councillors would benefit from the opportunity to be involved in discussions. The Committee asks that opportunities be provided for all elected members to be involved in the next stages of the development of the Catford town centre masterplan.

·         The Committee recommends that proposals for the future of the Council’s offices and civic facilities retain a connection between civic functions, office space and the public. The Committee believes that the Council’s offices should be open and accessible to the community so that there are opportunities for all residents to engage in the civic life of the borough.

·         The Committee recommends that officers’ future discussions with Transport for London and the Greater London Authority should emphasise the connection between the delivery of housing action zone targets and improvements in transport connections. The Committee is concerned about current plans to stop the extension of the Bakerloo line in Lewisham, rather than extending it to Hayes (via Catford).

·         The Committee reiterates the importance of incorporating quality cycling and walking routes on the key arterial routes into Catford.

·         The Committee recommends that as part of the master planning process officers should consider the potential for the development of an education campus with further and higher education providers.

·         The Committee highlights the importance of Catford’s varied and unique collection of businesses. The Committee recommends that consideration be given to options for provision of affordable premises for local businesses and organisations with a social purpose. This might include changes to the business rate system which enable innovation, encourage social purpose and support community participation.